Postdoctoral Fellowship (2 year scholarship) in Bioinformatics and Human Genetics with a focus on Myocarditis

Tuiskunen Bäck Laboratory, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, Sweden

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled postdoctoral fellow in bioinformatics or biostatistics to join our research group focused on the genetic underpinnings of myocarditis—an inflammation of the heart muscle. The project centers on the analysis of whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing (WES and WGS) data from well-characterized patient cohorts, aiming to identify genetic variants that influence disease susceptibility, progression, and risk prognosis.

This work is part of a broader translational research program that integrates genomics with clinical, virological, and immunological data to improve patient stratification and advance precision medicine in the cardiovascular field.

Research Focus

Our group investigates the role of viruses in human disease, with a particular focus on metagenomic approaches. We specialize in next-generation sequencing (NGS) of clinical samples to understand how viral infections impact human health.

Myocarditis, often triggered by viral infections in the Western world, is a complex condition with considerable individual variation in disease outcome. It remains unclear why some individuals develop myocarditis while others do not, and why some cases progress to chronic cardiomyopathy and heart failure.

By analyzing clinical samples, we aim to identify genetic traits associated with susceptibility to myocarditis and its long-term complications. Additional components of the project include virome profiling, analysis of immunological and metabolomic responses, and correlation with novel microRNA-based biomarkers of disease progression and severity.

The postdoctoral fellow will provide bioinformatics expertise, focusing on whole-exome sequencing analysis and contributing to biostatistical and bioinformatic interpretation of metagenomic data. Our multidisciplinary team works at the intersection of virology, cardiology, and genomics, fostering a collaborative environment for translational discovery.

Key Responsibilities

• Process, analyze, and interpret large-scale WES and WGS data using both established and custom bioinformatics pipelines.
• Perform variant calling, annotation, and prioritization of both rare and common variants.
• Conduct statistical analyses including association studies, burden testing, and polygenic risk score modeling.
• Collaborate closely with wet lab scientists, clinicians, and other computational researchers.
• Contribute to scientific meetings, collaborative efforts, publications, and presentations at conferences.
• Maintain clear, well-documented, and reproducible analysis workflows. Comply with Umeå University’s policies on Equal Opportunities and Data Protection.

Qualifications and Skills

Essential:

• PhD in bioinformatics, computational biology, biostatistics, or a related discipline.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, R, and/or Bash.
• Demonstrated experience in next-generation sequencing (NGS) data analysis, particularly whole-exome (WES) and/or whole-genome sequencing (WGS).
• Hands-on experience developing and maintaining bioinformatics pipelines and managing large-scale genomic datasets.
• Familiarity with standard bioinformatics tools and workflows (please specify in your application).
• Strong understanding of human genetic variation and its relevance to human disease.
• Experience with statistical genetics and integrative data analysis.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Proficiency in English, both written and spoken.
• Ability to work as part of a team, as well as independently and take initiative in driving project progress.
• Proven ability to deliver high-quality results within deadlines.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Personal suitability and motivation will be important selection criterion.

What we offer

This project offers a unique opportunity to work at the interface of cardiology, virology, and state-of-the-art genomics in a vibrant and collaborative research setting at Umeå University.

Our project is anchored in a clinical cohort and biobank of myocarditis patients, in close collaboration with the Heart Centre, Pediatric Clinic, and Centre for Cardiovascular Genetics at Umeå University Hospital. This integration enables deep phenotyping and genotyping of patients and allows you to contextualize molecular data in a clinically relevant setting.

The group leader is affiliated with the Swedish EMBL node for Molecular Infection Medicine (MIMS) and the Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), providing excellent opportunities for networking and career development in an international research environment.

You will contribute to high-impact research at the crossroads of cardiovascular genetics and clinical virology. If you're passionate about genomic medicine and translational research, we strongly encourage you to apply.

Fellowship summary

Full-time 2-year stipend (360 000 SEK per year, tax-free) including fully funded research expenses, financed by the Kempe Foundations. Start date between September 2025 and November 2025.

Application

Please submit the following documents:

1. Cover letter highlighting qualifications and motivation
2. CV, including publication list
3. A code sample and/or link to a public repository (e.g., GitHub or GitLab) demonstrating your skills in NGS data analysis, pipeline development, or data visualization. Please include a short explanation of the purpose of the code and your role in its development.
4. Copy of PhD certificate, and relevant degree certificates
5. Contact details for two up-to-date references (from the past three years).

Send you application, marked with reference number FS 2.1.6-267-25 to medel@diarie.umu.se and anne.tuiskunen@umu.se (mention reference number in the subject line), or by post to Umeå University, Registrator, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden.

Application deadline: 250513.

For questions, contact

Anne Tuiskunen Bäck, Department of Clinical Microbiology, e-mail: anne.tuiskunen@umu.se